Monster Hunter Nemesis by Larry Correia
There is no way that any review I write about Monster Hunter Nemesis is going to have any sort of effect on anybody’s decision to read it. If you’re a fan of the extremely popular MONSTER HUNTER series, then you’re going to read Monster Hunter Nemesis, the fifth book. If you’re not, you won’t. And if you’re not in one of those two camps, you have no reason to be reading this review. But still I have to write it, because that’s my job.
So, for those of you who ARE fans, what you can expect here is exactly what Correia has given us so far: great characters, a fascinating story, witty dialogue, and brutal violence. This particular installment features my favorite character: AGENT FRANKS! He’s a huge indestructible man(?) who works for the U.S. Monster Control Bureau, a government agency that fights monsters and sometimes works with or against Monster Hunter International. In Monster Hunter Nemesis we get his backstory. How old is he? Where did he come from? Why does he work for MCB? Why is he so loyal to the United States? How is he indestructible? You’ll find out in Monster Hunter Nemesis as Agent Franks takes on a bureaucrat who’s also a mad scientist. I have to say that I was completely surprised by the revelations and what they may mean for the ongoing MONSTER HUNTER story.
Fans will be happy to see a little bit of our old friends at MHI, the gangsta gnomes, and Heather the werewolf. Several new intriguing characters are introduced, too, and I look forward to seeing them in future installments. One main character is tragically killed and there is a delightfully promising plot twist at the end.
For those of you who haven’t yet started the MONSTER HUNTER series, I can highly recommend it if you love monsters, guns, engaging heroes, tons of action, clever plotting, and just the right amount of humor. I must warn you that it’s gory and violent (a little too much for me, honestly) and that Larry Correia’s libertarian views are occasionally on display, especially when he disrespects the government and the president of the United States (who is obviously President Obama).
If you’re going to try MONSTER HUNTER, start with the first book (Monster Hunter International) and continue in publication order. I also highly recommend Audible Studios’ versions which are brilliantly narrated by Oliver Wyman who totally “gets” this series and gives us a perfect performance for each character, and especially for Agent Franks. If you’re not an audio reader, this one could definitely change your mind. Try the sample!
I laughed at your first paragraph because I know Correia often ends up as a player in various political kerfluffles, but I have to say, your reviews are making these books grow on me. I think you got me with “Heather the Werewolf.”
Marion, I honestly didn’t think I would like Correia’s books and I can’t remember exactly why I picked up the first one — probably a review request from the publisher — but I look forward to them now. I think a lot of my enjoyment is because I’m listening to the audio versions. They are some of the best audio performances I’ve ever heard.
In both series, Correia doesn’t hide his right-wing/libertarian views (mostly these have to do with guns and distrust of government). This doesn’t bother me since I lean libertarian too (though I don’t feel the same way about gun rights as Correia does), but it may annoy democrats because he seems to pick on the current democratic administrations in both of his series (MONSTER HUNTER is set in the present and GRIMNOIR CHRONICLES is set in the 1930s). But it’s not really pervasive — just occasional comments that make it clear he has a bias. And, to be fair, many authors show their political biases in their novels.